"only one was sent from Bluefin, but perhaps other companies sent them? I'd have to check that out. Yes, a fleet might be better given the large area that is part of the search, even if it has been narrowed down from original size. I imagine if the plane is never found this will go down in history as a great mystery, and even more conspiracy theories will crop up."

Elizabath, only Australian government is actively participating for the search operation. Other countries like China, US, France, Russia etc are capable for search and rescue operation in underneath water; but unfortunately they are playing like silent observers.

Well as far as I know, Ann, only one was sent from Bluefin, but perhaps other companies sent them? I'd have to check that out. Yes, a fleet might be better given the large area that is part of the search, even if it has been narrowed down from original size. I imagine if the plane is never found this will go down in history as a great mystery, and even more conspiracy theories will crop up.

"it is a big tragedy indeed and ironically a question mark on the capabilities of modern technology. But when it comes to international waters, it isn't more ironic than Somali pirates' operations. It is painful to know that pirates can still take big ships hostage for months and in some cases for years without being detected."

AnandY, yes may be right with technology but may not be true with its application. Surveillance satellites are there to track and pin point each object on earth with eagle eyes. The issue is they don't want to use it for rescue operation; but always looks for neighbours internal military movements and other domestic movements.

I don't know if the robots have helped yet, but searchers are making some progress on finding the black box last time I looked. Meanwhile though, those robots may be one of the few technologies that can be of any help. I was surprised, though, to see only one in use. This seems like an app where a fleet of them would make more sense to cover such a huge territory.BTW, I agree with your comments about the hugeness and mystery of the oceans.

I agree with you, AandY. This incident shows exactly why the ocean is a frontier as vast as space for us here on earth. it is a mysterious place and while it's not surprising these sorts of things can happen, I admit it is very disheartening.

A few weeks ago, Ford Motor Co. quietly announced that it was rolling out a new wrinkle to the powerful safety feature called stability control, adding even more lifesaving potential to a technology that has already been very successful.

It won't be too much longer and hardware design, as we used to know it, will be remembered alongside the slide rule and the Karnaugh map. You will need to move beyond those familiar bits and bytes into the new world of software centric design.

People who want to take advantage of solar energy in their homes no longer need to install a bolt-on solar-panel system atop their houses -- they can integrate solar-energy-harvesting shingles directing into an existing or new roof instead.

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